Chinese Broadcasting Company Dumped by Eurovision After Censoring Ireland’s Gay Entry

The European Broadcasting Union has cut ties with Chinese broadcaster Mango TV after the company censored two of the performances from the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest's semi-final.

"This is not in line with the EBU's values of universality and inclusivity and our proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music," said the EBU in a statement, according to The Independent. "It is with great regret that we will therefore immediately be terminating our partnership with the broadcaster and they will not be permitted to broadcast the second Semi-Final or the Grand Final."

Related | Ireland's Gay Love Song is Moving Forward To the Eurovision Finals (Watch)

Of the two performances censored was Ryan O'Shaughnessy's "Together," whose video features two men dancing romantically through the streets. With the help of Kevin O'Dwyer and Alan McGrath, the original dancers from the video, the Irish singer recreated the emotional depth of the song live on the Eurovision stage.

"I would like to welcome the decision by the EBU to do that because from the very start we have just said love is love," said O'Shaughnessy. "It doesn't matter whether it's between two guys and two girls or a guy and a girl. I think it's a really important decision by the EBU, they haven't taken this lightly, and I think it's a move in the right direction so I'm happy about it."

Ireland will compete against 25 other countries in the Eurovision Grand Final tomorrow, which will air in the United States on Logo at 3pm ET.